title: Fate of a genetically modified bacterium in foregut of glassy-winged sharpshooter (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).
abstract: Symbiotic control is a new strategy being investigated to prevent the spread of insect-transmitted pathogens by reducing vector competence. We are developing this strategy to reduce the spread of Xylella fastidiosa by Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) [formerly Homalodisca coagulata (Say)] (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), the glassy-winged sharpshooter. In this study, the fate of a transformed symbiotic bacterium, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans variety denitriicans (S1Axd), in the foregut of glassy-winged sharpshooter when fed on citrus (Citrus spp.) and grape (Vitris spp.) was assessed. TaqMan-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect and quantify bacterial cells remaining in the foregut at 0, 2, 4, 9, and 12 d after acquisition. S1Axd titer dropped rapidly by 2 d after acquisition, but in spite of this, at end of the 12-d experimental period, 45 and 38% of the glassy-winged sharpshooters retained the transformed bacteria, when fed on grape and citrus, respectively.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside, CA 92521-0314, USA.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Perring
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002957:Citrus / Q000382:microbiology; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified / Q000502:physiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013559:Symbiosis; D027843:Vitis / Q000382:microbiology